SC - Gunthar's coronation feast review

[Mike Young]

Just got back and thought the list might enjoy a brief description
of the feast from the vantage point of the back of the hall.  Perhaps His
Majesty will honor us with a recount of his perceptions from the front:-)

We began with bread, a sweat sauce(loved it and would like to have
documentation/recipe)and butters.  I am as much a sucker for these as for
the chips/hot sauce at the mexican restaurant and loved them.  The beef for
the next course was smoked and had a wonderful flavor.
I was also quite taken with the red cabbage and leeks.  The cuskinolds here
were unleavened cakes with sweet paste tops.  (No covers:-) but very tasty)
There were also buttered noodles which were good with a noticable lack of
stickiness which is always my problem when I try to serve them.
The next course had chicken and rice which was good and warm which was a
problem with most of the rest of the items.  From experience I know getting
food out to 300+ people all at the same time after waiting for a meeting to
be over is next to impossible.  I also must admit here that it was really
just a problem with ME because no one else seemed to mind as none of the
dishes tasted particularly bad luke-cool.  Anyway, I personally also
enjoyed the salat that was served with this course, although less than
period it passed just fine.  Once again the cook hit a weekness of
mine-black olives.  I was also justified here somewhat as the last time I
tried to serve salat my co-cook insisted we serve the vinigar dressing on
the side for those who wouldn't want it.  This was served ON it already and
I didn't hear any complaints.  There was a sausage pie and a cheese/onion
pie also.  I really would like to try the cheese thing(and I think I have a
recipe somewhere)hot but as I said, I heard rave reviews so I think this
was just me.

All in all I was very pleased.  I believe this feast did the jobs a good
feast should.  There was enough selection that almost everyone could fine
something in each course they could enjoy.  The dishes were all period or
period-ish(I only wish a copy of documentation/recipes had been available
but maybe that will be forthcoming?)  There was PLENTY.  And, the serving
was organized very well. Although I WAS sitting at the back of the hall, I
still got everything offered and seconds offered on something from every
course.

Didn't see any blancmange which was on the menue.  I was really looking
forward to it as I have never tried it.  Tried the frumenty
and was glad for the opportunity to have it for the first time but wasn't
particularly impressed.  Also discovered my feelings for chick peas and
green peas haven't changed. (yuk!:-) and must confess to passing on the
carrots in the third course as I had been munching on raw ones all day.

I also, of course, really enjoyed giving our table of 20+ people a quick
lesson on period foods with each course.  
Overall, well worth the 10$ site/feast fee.  Two thumbs up.

gwyneth
  



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